Short Game – Moment of Impact

By Kevin Carll, PGA Head Professional 

There is a general rule in regards to the Short Game that applies to 99% of the shots you will play, “keep your hands forward of the ball at impact.”

How many times have you hit a chip that comes off the club face extremely high and ends up short or you hit the middle of the ball and it rips across the green?  Both of these misses stem from improper hand position at impact and due to the fact that the club head is in front of the hands at impact.

Get in front of a mirror and try to emulate a chip in slow motion and stop at impact.  You should be able to draw an imaginary line from the middle of your grip to the ground.  If the club head is in front of your grip, start over.  Repeat the motion until you are able to get the grip slightly ahead of the club head at impact. 

Once this position is familiar, put it altogether in one continuous motion.